Bangladesh board to discuss Whatmore's future

Following Dav Whatmore's statements to the media about his interest in coaching India, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have convened an emergency meeting on April 10 to discuss his future as coach of Bangladesh.

After Greg Chappell resigned as coach of India, Whatmore told an Indian news channel that he would be interested in taking over as Chappell's successor should the opportunity come his way. The BCB were particularly critical of the timing of Whatmore's comments, given that it occurred in the middle of Bangladesh's World Cup campaign, adding that it would only distract the team. Whatmore's contract runs till May.

"We've convened an emergency meeting of the board on April 10 when we will discuss the Dav Whatmore issue," Mahbub Anam, the BCB general secretary, told AFP. "We have read some of his interviews in the media. Before the meeting, we will talk to him about these interviews and reports. And then we will discuss all the issues in the meeting."

Whatmore is credited with Bangladesh's improved showing in the World Cup, having knocked India out of Group B to secure a place in the Super Eights. Anam praised Whatmore's work behind the scenes and said the effort to persuade Whatmore to take over the Bangladesh side in 2003 was finally paying off.

"It was a tremendous performance," Anam added. "We set the goal of winning a place in the Super Eights and we have just won that. Definitely it was a great performance by the team and the coach. We had to chase him for months. Under him the team has grown. We are no longer the same old team."